Game apparatus



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GAME APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1931 17 Sheets-Sheet l2 L June 1933. F'. L. MILLS GAME APPARATUS 17 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed July 27, 1951 F.I L. MILLS GAME APPARATUS June 6, 1933.

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17 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed July 27, 19251 Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED` STATI-:s PATr- ZNTA OFFICE.

FRED L. MILLs, or om IAnx, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon To MILLS NOVELTY COMPANY, or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS 'GAME 'APrAnA'rUs 'Application led l.'l'uly 27,

This invention relates to a game apparatus having playing mechanism which may be manipulated by the operator to simulate the playing of a baseball game. Theinvention contemplates the provision of a game apparatus or this typewhich is provided with coin-operated means forcontrolling the playing of the game. v

, An object of the invention is-to provide a game device having a playing field over which series ot' player pieces may be moved, and lin conjunction therewith and as a means for controlling the moves of the pieces, a coinoperated mechanism embodying a plurality f of legend-displaying reels which are adapted to be driven by actuating the machine and which, when they come to rest, display a combination of legends which automatically de` termines the moves of the player pieces.

I Another object of the invention isto provide a game apparatus of the type specified in which the movement of the playerpieces is rendered subject to the skill of the operator through the provision of manually-operated control means for regulating the final positions of rest assumed by the legen-d-display-- ing reels.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide in a coin-controlled. game apparatus o the character referred to an award mechanism .which operates in certain cases to automatically all-ow to the operator a number of free plays, the number allowed depending upon the success which the operator has had '35 in effecting the moves of the player pices in the preceding play.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as I proceed with. my specification, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. 4

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machinei embodying the game mechanism and the coin-controlledv means which regulates the playing of the game; v,

Fig. 2 is a side view yof the machine, as viewed from the `right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the ma.-V chine taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

RUSSUED Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 1 with the front portion of the casing broken away to show the internal structure;

1931. serial No. 553,326.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, with the casing removed, of the coin-controlled and award mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view ofthe machine taken approximately as indicated -by line 3--3 of Fig. 1, the casing being removed for clearer illustration;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, with the casing removed, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section, with the casing I removed, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a broken vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on line 11-114of Fig. 7 and illustrating the release mechanism for controlling the positions 'of the slides which determine the moves of the player pieces;

Fig. 12 is a section as indicated byline 12-12 of Fig. 11, the section showing one of the ratchet discs .which rotates with one of the legend-displaying reels;

Fig. 13 is a side view'of the release slides `taken as indicated by line 13-13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a detail plan and sectional view showing thel means for holding the yrelease slides in their advanced position;

Fig. 15 is a transverse section through one ofthe release slides, the section being taken -as indicated byv lihe 15--15 of Fig. 14;

Fig'. 16, 17, partly in section, tions of the mechanism for controlling the stoppage of the legend reels; A

Fig. 19 is a vertical section showlng a portion of the award. mechanism, the section being taken on line 19--f19` of Fig. 5;

.Fig.'20 is a rear elevational view of the' and 18 are elevational views, 'j illustrating several poslmechanism whichV moves the player pieces around the playing field, the view being taken as indicated by line 20-20 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the mounting of the arms which carry the player pieces;

' for releasing the player pieces from the home base; Fig. 26 is a rear view of the playing field, taken on line 26-26 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary view of the player pieces and the lower ends of the arms to which they are secured;

Fig. 28 isa broken vertical sectional view illustrating the mint-vending mechanism, the section being taken on line 28--28 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing the means for operating the mint-vending mechanism;

Fig. 3() is a detail section taken on line 30-30 of Fig. 29;

Fig. 31 is a brokenv plan sectional view of the score-recording devices;

Fig. 32 is a section taken of Fig. 31; and

Fig. 33 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the score-recording means, as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 31.

As shown in the general views of Figs. 1-4, the apparatus is enclosed in a casing comprising a base 40, end walls 4l and 42,

on line 32-32 a top wall 43,- a front wall 44, and a rearwardly pitched front wall section 45. The back of the casing may be closed by a suitable Wood or metal panel (not shown). The front wall 44 is provided centrally with a transparent panel 46 through which the playing field may be viewed, and on either side thereof with glass panels 47 through which merchandise, such as mint rolls 48, which is dispensed from the machine` may be viewed. Bottom wall 40 is provided with trays 49 for receiving the mint rolls which are released from the vending compartments and delivered therefrom through openings 51 in the front wall 44. The rearwardly pitched rfront wall section 45 is provided near one end with a manually-operated scoreskeeping device, indicated generally by the numeral 52, and 1s provided near the other end with a panel 53 for yiewing the indicator on the award mechamsm, presently to be described. In the center of wall section 45 is located a transparent panel 54 through which may be viewed the legend-bearing reels, and immediately therebelow is provided a plate 55 bearing a card indicating t-he awards accompanying various combinations of the legends carried on the reels. Secured to theI top wall 43 is a box-shaped housing 56 through which extends a coin chute 57. It will be understood that the several walls of the casing are secured together by bolts or other suitable connections to form a rigid unit. The front wall section 45 is made removable to permit of ready access to the interior of the casing for filling the vending compartments.

A description of the coin-controlled mechanism, the operation of which determines the moves of the various parts of the game device, will first be given, reference being had particularly to Figs. 4-7. A main base or supporting plate 58, extending between a pair of column supports 59, is provided at one end with an upright 61, in the upper end of which is journaled a reel-supporting shaft 62, the opposite end of said'shaft being supported in a frame part 63 which" extends upwardly from base plate 58. Three legenddisplaying reels 64, 65, and 66 a-re mounted for free rotation on shaft 62, the hub portions of the reels consisting of sleeves which are provided, respectively. with star wheels 67,

68, and 69. The opposite ends of the sleeves of reels 64, 65, and 66 are provided, respectively, with ratchet discs 71, 72, and 73. Each reel, together with its corresponding star wheel and ratchet disc, is thus mounted for independent rotation on shaft 62. The pcripheral face of each reel is provided with a legend-bearing strin which may be viewed through the panel 54, the aligned position of the legends assumed when the reels come to rest being employed, as will presently appear, to control mechanism which determines the moves of the player pieces of the game device. n

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, spinning of the reels is effected by first inserting a proper coin inl coin chute 57 and then pulling forwardly on a lnain operating handle 7 4 which is rigidly connected through a stub shaft with an apron 40 (Fig. 3), said hub being journaled in the end wall 41 of the casing. A flange 50, projecting inwardly from the lower edge of apron 40, rests on the forward end of an arm 76, the latter being pivoted on a stub shaft'60 carried by end wall 41. A coil spring 70 holds arm 76 against flange 50 v The actuating mechanism for the reels, which is operated from arm 76, is shown in Fig. 7. A lever 77, pivoted at 7 8 on upright 63, is'provided with a forwardly projecting arm 79 which carries a laterally projecting lug 81, the latter being engaged by arm 76 when the main operating handle 74 is pulled down, this downward pull being resisted by a heavy coil spring 82 connected at one end to lever 77 and at the opposite end to a fixed point on the frame. A rearwardly extending arm 83, forming an integral part of lever 7 7, carries an actuating dog 8 4, which is pivoted at 85 to said arm 83, and which has limited swinging movement relative thereto, by reason of a pin 86 carried by arm 83 and extending through an enlarged opening 87 formed in dog 84. When lever 77 is actuated, dog 84 is raised to engage a forwardly projecting arm 88 which is rigidly supported 'on a main rock shaft 89 (Fig. 8), the latter extending-transversely across the rear portion of the machine and having its opposite ends journaled Iin fixed frame parts supported from base 58.

Continuing the reference toFig. 7, actuation of lever 77 to effect rotation of the main rock shaft 89 requires the introduction of a coin in the coin chute 57, a coin thus` intro duced falling into position to be engaged by a rearwardly, projecting portion of a lever 91- (Fig. 4), the latter being pivoted at 92 to the coin chute housing and the rearwardly projecting portion thereof extending into the coin chute to engage the coin. A vertically disposed link 93 is pivotally connected at 94 to coin-engagingA lever 91, the lower end of said'link being slotted to receive a stud 97 carried by lever 77. A pair. of springs y95, connected at their upper ends to link 93 and at their lower ends to al clip 96 secured to stud 97, afford a yielding connection between said at 104 to the frame. The upper end of lever link and lever 77.

Lowering of lever 77 is normally prevented by a lock bar 98, the'lower end of which is pivoted at 99 to the frame and the upper end of which is slotted, as indicated at 101, to receive apin 102 carried on the lower end of a coin trip lever 103, which is pivoted 103 carries a forwardly-projecting arm 105 which, in the normal inactive position, extends iush with the rear face of the inner wall of coin chute 57. If attempt is made to lower the main actuating lever 77 without first introducing a coin, a lug 106 carried on said lever will strikea shoulder 107 on lock bar 98, said bar being urged rearwardly to bring said shoulder into engagement with lug 106 by a coil spring 108, the latter being connected at one end to the frame and at the other end to an ear 109 on the upper end of said bar. If a coin is introduced into the coin chute before pulling handle 74 forwardly, lock bar 98 isheld in its forward or nonobstructing position, this lbeing effected by the drawing of the coin downwardly in the lchute by the vlowering of link 93, which through lever 91 pulls the coin opposite the forward end of arm 105 to prevent forward movement of said arm and consequent turning of trip lever 103. Lever 103, being held 'against movement by the presence of a coin,

prevents'lock bar 98 fr om being drawn rearwardly to obstruct downward movement of lever 77.

Return movement of-lever 77 under the action of spring 82 is prevented before said lever has been lowered through a complete strokeby a spring-held pawl 4111 which engages a ratchet segment 112 which constitutes an integral part of lever 77. When lever 77 has been lowered farenough to allow pawl 84 to clear arm 88 on the main rock shaft, the pawl 111 will have moved completely over rack 112 and lever 77, arm 76, and handle 7 4 are then returned to inactive position by spring 82. l v

The turning of rock shaft 89 spins reels 64, 65, and 66, the mechanism for accomplishing this being shown in Fig. 8. A bell crank lever 113, rigid on shaft 89, is provided with a forwardly extending arm 114 which has pivotal connection with a link 115, the latter being pivoted at its upper end to a second link 116, which in turn is pivoted at 117 to the frame. A pawl arm 118 of bell crank form is pivoted at 121 on link 116 and is provided at one end with a pawl 122 ladapted to engage the teeth of ratchet discs 71, 72, and 73. The other end of pawl arln 118 carries a lug 123 which normally rests against link 116, the latter being yieldingly connected with said arm by a coil spring 124. When rock shaft 89 is actuated, pawl arm A118 is raised to the dotted position shown in Fig.` 8, in which position it engages the teeth of the ratchet discs and spins the reels as soon as actuating dog 84 clears arm 88 on rock shaft 89, this spinning of the reelsbeing effected by a quick snapping action caused by spring 124 and also by the return of rock shaft 89 under spring action toward its normal inoperative position.

The ratchet discs 7173 are ylocked in their normal position of rest by a latch arm 125 which is pivoted at 126 to a fixed point on the frame, the upper end of said arm being urgedlforw-ardly against the discs by a spring 127. The lowerend of arm 125 rests on an apron 128 which is pivoted on a crossrod 129, carried by the frame, said apron being provided with a downwardly projecting cam surface 131 for engaging arm 114. When rock shaft 89 is turned to start rotation of the reels, latch arm 125 is moved to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 8. When the rock shaft has returned to normal'inoperative position latch arm 125 is brought back into engagement with the ratchet` discs in a manner presently to be i explained.

Mechanism, operated from rock shaft 89,

is provided to bring the reels to rest in po# vided with 'a lip 137, which rests on a cam -V 138, the latter being rigidly secured to rock 

